function convert(mySel) {
	// first i check to see if they've entered something besides
	// Search Our Site - this prevents people from submitting the
	// default value as a search term
	if (mySel.value == "Search Our Site") {
		return false;
	} else {
		// declaring variables
		var myWin, myVal, gcseCode;
		// Google gives each of its custom search engines an id, so
		// we need to set the variable that holds this value based on
		// which domain we're on
		if (location.host == "www.cosmeticsandtoiletries.com") {
			gcseCode = "xza5h_cqlz8"
		} else if (location.host == "www.gcimagazine.com") {
			gcseCode = "orvhyiscjqi"
		} else if (location.host == "www.perfumerflavorist.com") {
			gcseCode = "0xaqj4wjnme"
		} else if (location.host == "www.skininc.com") {
			gcseCode = "qhcvuq8a7qo"
		}
		// set the search terms to a variable
		myVal = mySel.value;
		// do some replacing to make sure the url looks ok
		myVal = myVal.replace(/ /g,"+");
		myVal = myVal.replace(/"/g,"%22");
		myVal = myVal.replace(/&/g,"%26");
		// now we add the url we'll be directing them to with the
		// search terms
		myVal = "http://" + location.host + "/search?cx=012659430018965267705%3A" + gcseCode + "&cof=FORID%3A11&q=" + myVal;
		// this next part i don't really understand, but clearly
		// we're using myVal to set myWin and then going there
		if (myVal) {
			if(mySel.form.target)myWin = parent[mySel.form.target];
			else myWin = window;
			if (! myWin) return true;
			myWin.location = myVal;
		}
		return false;
	}
}